I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Ohio Buckeye on December 29, 2006, 08:29:05 PM
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I take epo shots and iron iv to try to keep my blood count up.
I have not got the nerve or courage or whatever it is I need to give
myself the shots. I have a friend who is a nurse and I depend on her
to give them to me. I just can't bring myself to do this. do you give
yourself these shots and how did you get over the fear of it? I am
such a chicken I guess.
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Before my Mum died when I was 20 in 1995, before all this kidney failure stuff, my mum had cancer and I used to give her the morphine injections because my Dad was too scared..................
Never thought it would come to the time I would give myself injections.
I used to have to give myself the epo shots (6 needles a week because of the dose I'm on) now we just put it in the lines of the machine.
This may sound scary in the end when i was injecting myself, took a deep breathe, had a hold of some of my stomache, and thru it like a dart, bullseye!
No really, before I used to do it like this it really hurt. So fast and quick is my method!
The fear, well u just have to learn to control it, it like when I 1st started dialysis I couldn't even look at getting those needles inserted without crying, now Hey I do it all myself.Pretty happy with that... :)
Just be Brave.............................YOU CAN DO IT ! I WAS ONCE A SOOKY LA LA TOO ! :cuddle;
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wow, you have certainly come a long way.
good for you.
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Yup, don't go slow - it hurts more. And warm it up to body temp, too. It stings more if it's still cold.
I had to learn to give myself shots at 13, or they wouldn't let me out of the hospital after I was diagnosed with juv. diabeties. I practiced on an orange with a syringe and vial of saline.
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I take epo shots and iron iv to try to keep my blood count up.
I have not got the nerve or courage or whatever it is I need to give
myself the shots. I have a friend who is a nurse and I depend on her
to give them to me. I just can't bring myself to do this. do you give
yourself these shots and how did you get over the fear of it? I am
such a chicken I guess.
I use insulin needles to inject my Epogen, the needle is like 1/4 of an inch, it's super small. I don't feel a thing. It's just a Phobia you have. It is PAINLESS. In the past Epogen contained additives that made it sting when given and it wasn't concentrated, so you needed to inject more. I inject 5,000 units and it takes litterally 2 seconds. I too was afraid because of how I had it given to me in the past, but things have changed.
- Epoman
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Same here, while training for my PD and all was said and done, they broke the news that i was going to have to give me my own shots WTF :o I sat there for about 30 minutes and finally did it, now i do it with no problem, it help so much more if you do it in your stomach, just put the needle up to it and push it in, easy peasy lemon squeezy ;) ;) Good Luck, let us know how it goes k... :cuddle;
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you tell someone that you inject yourself everyday in the stomach and most of them lose it but if you have to give yourself a shot the area around the belly button about an inch away and in a circle is painless. there are no nerves in that area so stab away you can do it!!!
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I was in the same boat where you are now. Fear was my signature. Don't worry...you can do it. I warm up the syringe before doing it (with my hands)...and I used to do it on my stomach or on my legs...legs were less painfull to me. Now I do it through the machine....Practice makes perfect. If a chicken like me was able to do it...you will for sure. One day at the time... :grouphug;
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Buckeye,
I know how hard it is to do the shots. I have a terrible phobia of needles since I was 3. The first time I tried
to give myself epo I had to laydown after or pass out. Anyway, this is how I got "better" at it (never got over it):
First prepare syringe with epo. I liked it alittle room temp.
Take a ice pack and FREEZE either side of your navel. I had to alternate between. When you feel it is good and
cold, wipe with alcohol wipe and slowly insert needle a little at a time. You don't need to go deep. I did it slowly
rather than quickly like a nurse does it. I would watch TV and just slowly distract myself and before I knew it is
was it. Hold one hand near the needle so it does not move and slowly push the plunger with the other hand.
In the beginning it took me 30 minutes but at the end I was doing it in 10. I now have it done during my hemo
so now I don't have to deal with that at all.
Good luck. I know that it is tough but you will be able to do it.
SCYankee
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They have always given us our epo, now Aranesp shots at the unit.
However it wouldn't bother me to give myself shots as needles have never bothered me.
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It's quite different in Canada - Epo is always administered through dialysis lines. Even when I travel and take the Epo with me - it's been done the same way. Interesting.
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I self dialize and i put epo in after I dialize in the line. I gave it via my Butt cheeks before. :clap;
I could have done it in my arm, but then i would not have had the excuse to tell my wife i need her to look at my butt! :2thumbsup;
I got her to do it, to make her more involved.
-Jaybird
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My dose is 20,000.
sounds like a huge amount to me.
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i was never able to give myself the epo shot. i always went to the hospital once a week and my nurse would give it to me.
then i moved, so my grams gave me the shot. then she moved, so my grandpa gave me the shot.
now im on hemo so i get the epo while on dialysis. i do have to give myself lovanox shots every other day to keep my fistula from clotting. at first i couldnt do it. i went to the hospital everyday to get the lovanox shot. when i first started hemo i had to have the shot everyday.
finally they told me i had to do the shot myself. i trained on an orange. the first time i tried to shoot myself in the stomach, i freaked out and accidentally stuck the nurse in the hand. (whoops, my bad) :o honest, i didnt do it on purpose. i tried to hand her the needle and jabbed her in the hand. a couple days later i tried again. i stuck myself, but as i pushed the med in i was also pulling the needle out. :lol; to this day i still close my eyes when i stick myself.
good luck, i hope you do better then i did.
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My dose is 20,000.
sounds like a huge amount to me.
Yes it is, but I used to be on 26,000 units 3 times a week, so it's not unusual. How is your BP? Because the much EPO can cause your BP to rise.
- Epoman
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I use Arenesp and I'm on 30 micrograms every second week. I self inject into my leg. It is the smallest needle I have ever seen so I don't mind doing it, but I do it very slowly. The part that I find that hurts more is when I inject the Arenesp when the needle is in my leg.
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I use insulin needles to inject my Epogen, the needle is like 1/4 of an inch, it's super small.
Our PD uses the TB Syringes. Same basic concept as the insulin syringes, the needles are smaller and hurt less.
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Here is a image of the Insulin Syringe I use for Epogen. :thumbup;
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Ohio Buckeye, I don't think you're a chicken. I give myself Aranesp injections, but it really scared me the first few times. It doesn't hurt, the needles are very small, but, somehow, sticking myself was very difficult for me. You can do it, there are a lot of good tips here, good luck!
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I am a big chicken! That needle looks huge to me in the picture!
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I am currently getting Aranesp every two weeks at the doctor's office except when my
Hemoglobin get to 12 or above as it did two weeks ago. If the needles are that
small I could probably do it myself, but I am not in a hurry. Does anyone else get a
strange sensation of the medication pushing into your body? I don't feel the
needle insertion, but I can definately feel the medication especially since the nurse
pushes it in slowly.
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I am a big chicken! That needle looks huge to me in the picture!
I use microfines - 31 gauge. The needle is as fine as a cat hair.
I am currently getting Aranesp every two weeks at the doctor's office except when my
Hemoglobin get to 12 or above as it did two weeks ago. If the needles are that
small I could probably do it myself, but I am not in a hurry. Does anyone else get a
strange sensation of the medication pushing into your body? I don't feel the
needle insertion, but I can definately feel the medication especially since the nurse
pushes it in slowly.
Do they warm it up, or just stick you with it? I can always tell when I haven't let it get warm enough - then you can feel the liquid pushing in.
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That's probably it. They take the medication straight out of the fridge!
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Warm it up with your hands!...if not...brrrrr :o
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Warm it up with your hands!...if not...brrrrr :o
I thought the whole point of keeping it in the fridge was to always keep it cold, they would give me ice packs to bring it home with so it wouldnt "warm up" so whats that all about?? :-\
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You keep it cold to store it, not to use it...you have to keep it cold for transportation, etc, but when is time to use it, you can warm it up with your hands, so is not that shocking to your body...then you will not feel the liquid entering your body. They thought me that at the hospital.
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hum, I was told to keep it cold.
I haven't made any progress, btw.
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hum, I was told to keep it cold.
I haven't made any progress, btw.
that is the same thing i was told as well, that there is another problem these nurses, techs and doctors have, no one can be consistent, they all have different things to say, grrrrrrrrrrr >:(
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well, it works for me...and I have been on it for 5 years or so.... :angel;
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hum, I was told to keep it cold.
I haven't made any progress, btw.
that is the same thing i was told as well, that there is another problem these nurses, techs and doctors have, no one can be consistent, they all have different things to say, grrrrrrrrrrr >:(
Ok let me settle this once and for all.
Listen BOTH of you very carefully, YES you do need to refrigerate it for storage or transportation, however it is perfectly fine to "Warm" it up before using it. I was trained to "palm" the syringe to help warm it up. In fact even at my old center (Davita) they would take the Epogen out of the mini-refrigerator and prepare everyone's (in the shift) Epo at the same time and by the time they finished 20 minutes has passed, which was plenty of time for it to reach room temperature. In fact they would bring my Epogen and I wouldn't let them "push it" in the line until the last 20 minutes of treatment, so by then almost an hour has passed by the time I finally received it.
Another trick is to place the Epogen "Vial" in you pocket for a few minutes to warm it up.
The most important thing is to never "SHAKE" you vial and never use it if it appears "cloudy" and technically you should not store it for longer than 21 days in the refrigerator, however my home program allows me to store it for the entire month, since that is when I pick up my Epo, once a month.
Here is a link DIRECTLY from the Epogen website: http://www.epogen.com/pdf/epogen_ppi.pdf
Here is a Quote from bottom of PAGE 4:
Preparing the dose
1. Remove the vial of EPOGENŽfrom the refrigerator and allow it to reach room temperature. Do not leave the vial in direct sunlight. Each EPOGENŽvial is designed to be used only once, unless you are using a Multidose vial. Do not shake EPOGENŽ. Assemble the other supplies you will need for your injection (vial; syringe; alcohol antiseptic wipes and a container for disposing the needle).
Now if you use "Procrit", "Aranesp" the SAME rules apply.
So goofynina do you believe me or is this another incident of you NOT believing me when I told you that "Nuts" were higher in potassium, more higher in potassium then in phosphorus. ::)
Yes, I will agree with goofynina that nurses, techs, and doctors, all have different things to say when it comes to procedures, that is why it's always good to do your own research, or just come here to get the "TRUTH". That is one of IHD's tag lines you know "A PLACE TO GET THE TRUTH" ;)
- Epoman
Owner/Admin
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Now if you use "PROCRIT" the SAME rules apply.
- Epoman
Owner/Admin
This also holds true those that may give themselves injections of Aranesp.
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I had to get epo when I was 15 and still to this day can give myself a shot(now 27) thank goodness for my mom I too am a chicken. Now I get it through my lines. When I switch back to PD I will have to go back torelying on my mother.
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Now if you use "PROCRIT" the SAME rules apply.
- Epoman
Owner/Admin
This also holds true those that may give themselves injections of Aranesp.
Thank you, I added it to my post. :thumbup;
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what does epo do for you.why do you need it??
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You see goofinina?...a Jedi never lies... ::) By the way, Epo, Aranesp, etc. is used to boost the production of red cells.
EDITED: Fixed Icon Tag Error - Sluff, Moderator
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Although it has taken six months the Aranesp has really helped my energy level.
I'm not like four years ago, but I definately can walk and exercise easier. Still waiting
to not be cold all the time however.
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Still waiting to not be cold all the time however.
Good luck. It has been eight years for me last November on dialysis and I am still damn cold all the time!
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I'm glad to hear Froggy that I'm not the only chicken.
and Big Steve unless you're luckier than me you'll be waiting forever not to be cold again.
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Has anyone heard of Reco-pen, its a needle pen used for injecting epo, I have been asking for one for ages but the other day they listened and I now have a new toy. one cartridge of epogen should last a whole month. Ive not used it yet but I am due to tomorrow.
the reason I asked for it was because needles and syringes look far to medical for me, and it should be more discreet plus I love gadgets...
Heph
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Has anyone heard of Reco-pen, its a needle pen used for injecting epo, I have been asking for one for ages but the other day they listened and I now have a new toy. one cartridge of epogen should last a whole month. Ive not used it yet but I am due to tomorrow.
the reason I asked for it was because needles and syringes look far to medical for me, and it should be more discreet plus I love gadgets...
Heph
You best be sure i am putting a call into my PD nurse tomorrow!!! lol, i love toys and gadgets toooooo ::) (SHUT UP EPOMAN) :P :P
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Thanks for the info about using the insulin syringe!! (dummy me!!-insulin syringes are 1cc syringes, and I use the ultra fine with tiny tiny needles) I'm only taking 10,000 of epo, so the insulin syringe works grrrrrrrrrrreat!! Will look forward to epo shot this week with the smaller needle! (Well, I don't know about looking forward to it, but I'm sure relieved I won't have to use that syringge with the garden hose needle on it!! LOL!!) As for giving oneself a shot, I'd rather give than receive, but I just had to suck it up-4 shots a day of insulin, on top of the 4 finger sticks! OUCH!! My PD Nurse says epo is better absorbed in the arms??? Anyone else heard that? It's given subcutaneously, tops of the thighs, backs of the arms and 2in. radius of the umbilicus, just like insulin-but she says my neph. advises alternate arms...????
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Thanks for the info about using the insulin syringe!! (dummy me!!-insulin syringes are 1cc syringes, and I use the ultra fine with tiny tiny needles) I'm only taking 10,000 of epo, so the insulin syringe works grrrrrrrrrrreat!! Will look forward to epo shot this week with the smaller needle! (Well, I don't know about looking forward to it, but I'm sure relieved I won't have to use that syringge with the garden hose needle on it!! LOL!!) As for giving oneself a shot, I'd rather give than receive, but I just had to suck it up-4 shots a day of insulin, on top of the 4 finger sticks! OUCH!! My PD Nurse says epo is better absorbed in the arms??? Anyone else heard that? It's given subcutaneously, tops of the thighs, backs of the arms and 2in. radius of the umbilicus, just like insulin-but she says my neph. advises alternate arms...????
Here we go again, lol, my PD nurse said it is most effective in the fat of the stomach.. (and wonder what makes her think i have fat in my stomach) ::)
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I should start giving my own too.
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Thanks for the info about using the insulin syringe!! (dummy me!!-insulin syringes are 1cc syringes, and I use the ultra fine with tiny tiny needles) I'm only taking 10,000 of epo, so the insulin syringe works grrrrrrrrrrreat!! Will look forward to epo shot this week with the smaller needle! (Well, I don't know about looking forward to it, but I'm sure relieved I won't have to use that syringge with the garden hose needle on it!! LOL!!) As for giving oneself a shot, I'd rather give than receive, but I just had to suck it up-4 shots a day of insulin, on top of the 4 finger sticks! OUCH!! My PD Nurse says epo is better absorbed in the arms??? Anyone else heard that? It's given subcutaneously, tops of the thighs, backs of the arms and 2in. radius of the umbilicus, just like insulin-but she says my neph. advises alternate arms...????
Here we go again, lol, my PD nurse said it is most effective in the fat of the stomach.. (and wonder what makes her think i have fat in my stomach) ::)
Thats what I have been told also.( stomach that is)
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My dose is 20,000.
sounds like a huge amount to me.
I hear you Ohio Buckeye. I am injecting 20,000u 5 times a week ever since my last transplant. I swear they screwed up my system. I never had to take this much in the past. As for the needles, I use the insulin needles and do not feel anything. I'm burning through those medicare dollars.
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what does epo do for you.why do you need it??
boxman55,
Epogen is "Man-made form of the human hormone, erythropoietin. Used to treat anemia associated with chronic renal failure for patients on dialysis". It is the same as Procrit, however after some legal disputes, Amgen sells Epogen and Ortho sells Procrit. As far as I know medicare will only reimburse dialysis patients for Epogen. Procrit is usually used for patients with cancer and severe anemia.
As you may know anemia causes fatigue, exhaustion, and if bad enough difficulty breathing. It really sucks. I can attest to it.
You can tell from your monthly blood tests if you need it. See how your hemoglobin and hematocrit are compared to the norms.
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my PD nurse said not to give the Epo around my umbilicus, could make problems with the PD.
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Ohio Buckeye,
I was the worlds BIGGEST sooky la la when I was told I had to inject myself with Arenesp. I mean a real basket case! :P I don't think it helps that by the time they decide to give it to you, your blood count is pretty low so you feel sluggish and not in control. But you can do this! Arensep is pre-filled in tiny syringes. I get it out of the fridge, warm it up in my palm for a few minutes, find a nice rolly part on my stomach, wipe and slowly stick it in. Once the skin is pierced you don't feel a thing. If slowly doesn't do it for you, do it fast! I do this with one eye on the T.V, to distract me and pretend I am in control. I just take a few deep breathes and get it over with.
:cuddle; You can do it too! Take small steps and you will be doing it yourself in no time.
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Well today I used the reco-pen to inject my epo. I thought it was more fun, im sure the novalty will wear off eventually but at least I don't have a fridge full of needles and syringes.
the pen has a little clicky thing you use to set your injection amount
see link http://www.ypsomed.ch/cf/produkte_therapien/produkte/128.html (http://www.ypsomed.ch/cf/produkte_therapien/produkte/128.html)
sorry its in french but at least you can hopefully see what I am talking about
Heph
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Well today I used the reco-pen to inject my epo. I thought it was more fun, im sure the novalty will wear off eventually but at least I don't have a fridge full of needles and syringes.
the pen has a little clicky thing you use to set your injection amount
see link http://www.ypsomed.ch/cf/produkte_therapien/produkte/128.html (http://www.ypsomed.ch/cf/produkte_therapien/produkte/128.html)
sorry its in french but at least you can hopefully see what I am talking about
Heph
Here is the English link: http://www.ypsomed.ch/en/produkte_therapien/produkte/128.html
Does that feel less like a needle? I remember I was just like melshell where Iwas so afraid to give myself the subcutanious injections of Arenesp (and Eprex which is the Canadian version of Epogen) in my stomach when I was on PD and had to get a nurse to come to my home for the first year until she MADE me learn :-\ lol! After awhile I learned it was not so bad! Epoman is right - the needle part is soooo small.
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the needles it takes are micro fine 0.25 mm which is absolutely tiny and I felt it even less than regular epo injection which is a slightly larger needle.
as I said It still has the excitement thing about it at the moment.
oh it also has a needle shield which if you choose to use it means you cant see the needle go in, you just press a flat round object against the skin and press the button. could work since a lot of needle phobia is psychological
Heph
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I learned to do it on a trip we took out of the country. The German unit didn't provide EPO so my neph here wrote a prescription for some to take along. The EPO in a cooler would never get by airport security today (then again it might considering some of the stuff I take all the time) but it was fine back in spring of 2000. EPO is not so much of a subcue shot and it must be sort of stabbed into the upper arm. It does hurt but the benefits are worth it.
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I took my epo shots in my tummy, no pain. I was too scared to do it myself in the arm or thigh. However when I was in clinic they did it in my arm until they switched to putting it directly in my line. i might have to take Epo again post-transplant until my Hemoglobin and Hematocrit come back up, if so ill be doing it in the tummy.
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Angela, you're right...find the right spot in your tummy and no pain. Also a great place for a touch of novolog every now and then.
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Hmmm. People are mentioning painless EPO shots. I've never experienced that. I used the tiny needles, so that part didn't hurt. But the stuff stung like the dickens...and that's after letting it sit out to room temperature, each time. I haven't had an EPO shot in a year, but I'll probably have to return to that when I return to home hemo again. I just need to find out how to make it painless...
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To make it painless for me, I inject it in my tummy... no pain no stinging or anything. I actually will be taking 10,000 units once a week starting this week.
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I think its easier (somehow less pain) to give those shots in your belly. Did it for 3 years once a week without any complicaton
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I have found that if I SQUEEZE the area with my index finger and thumb hard before I inject the needle, I feel NO pain. It works for me. But honestly those insulin needles I use, the needles are so small I don't even really need to squeeze.
- Epoman
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I agree with Epoman. Just pinch a roll on your stomach with your index finger and thumb and away you go. :clap; You can do it, it really doesn't hurt. I still get nervous but it is all in my head.... I just think its going to hurt. I always laugh at myself later for being so silly! ;D
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ok...i learned the pinch method and it didn't keep it from stinging... i rotated spots and it hurt no mater where. i hope i can avoid the need for injectable epo in the future...
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treasure are you using arenesp. I used that and it stung like hell, so I changed back to the other one which doesnt sting...
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I have just started using arenesp and I give it to myself in my leg with the pen-click needle. You just place the pen against your leg, click a buttom and the needle automatically clicks out when it give you your dosage. It only hurts a tad and you aren't fiddling around with syringes and needles. In fact, you don't even see the needle so nothing there to freak you out. Really is the way to go.
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Having had type 1 diabetes now for a little more than 40 years, I estimate I have given myself about 40,000 subcutaneous injections of insulin so far. Generally, the rule among diabetics is that people are bothered by self-injection only for the first week of the disease or so, and after that it simply becomes an inconvenience, but not a physical or psychological pain.
Now, post-transplant, my red blood cell count is still not normal, so I have to take a weekly injection of Aranesp, which is provided free in pre-filled syringes by the Canadian government to transplant patients who need it. But unfortunately the bore of the syringe in which it is available is about as thick as a pencil and it is as blunt and dull as a baseball bat, so it takes an enormous amount of pushing to get it to penetrate the skin. I have tried transferring it to a narrow guage insulin syringe, which is completely comfortable to use, but the process of transfer from one syringe to another is time-consuming, difficult, and always loses some Aranesp. So I have just resigned myself to struggling with that idiotically fat, obtuse syringe for the time being. But since the Aranesp passes easily through the narrow bore insulin syringe, why is it not provided in such a syringe? Is the thick syringe cheaper, and is the government operating on the theory that beggars can't be choosers?
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treasure are you using arenesp. I used that and it stung like hell, so I changed back to the other one which doesnt sting...
Nope! It was epogen...though, I think that the one time I was given Procrit, it didn't seem to sting. I thought Epo and Procrit, though, were bioequivalent.
For now, I'm just going to try to not think about my epo shots in the future... maybe i'll heal up from home hemo and not need epo...hehehe...
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I learned to give my epo shots while I was on PD. I gave them in the top of my thighs. Rather than using the 1cc insulin syringe, I used a 4cc syringe with removable needles. I used the big needles that came with the syringes to draw the epo from the vials, then replaced it with a small insulin needle to inject the epo. It seemed like a good system to me. There was no concern of dulling the needle drawing the epo. The 4cc syringe was the same length, as the 1cc syringe, but with a bigger diameter barrel. Therefore, the plunger travel was considerably less for the same volume. With my arthritis in my right hand, it was easier to administer the shot with the shortened plunger travel. The 1cc syringe was pulled all the way out, whereas, the 4cc was only 1/4 way out. The bigger barrel was easier to hold on to also.
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When I had to do epo at home, I found that the slower I pushed the plunger in my
tummy the less stinging was noticed. Anytime you do it quick between the pressure
of the syringe and the epo (or heparin) will make it sting.
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Most of the time, when i take my EPO it is painless, occasionally it can Really Hurt. what am I doing wrong, am I hitting a nerve????
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Still haven't got the courage to do mine yet.
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I take my epo when I dialylize on my nxstage machine. I take it 3 times a week. I noticed that when i take it I feel like hell about an hour afterwards. I told my nurse and my doctor and they said they never heard of this happening before. I have to take a nap or sit down and relax for about 2-3 hours after dialysis on the days I take epo.
Does anyone else feel different after they take it. Different in a bad way.
-Jaybird
Oh and it never stings or anything.
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I get mine through the lines at dialysis.
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I take my epo when I dialylize on my nxstage machine. I take it 3 times a week. I noticed that when i take it I feel like hell about an hour afterwards. I told my nurse and my doctor and they said they never heard of this happening before. I have to take a nap or sit down and relax for about 2-3 hours after dialysis on the days I take epo.
Does anyone else feel different after they take it. Different in a bad way.
-Jaybird
Oh and it never stings or anything.
And you inject it?
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I take my epo when I dialylize on my nxstage machine. I take it 3 times a week. I noticed that when i take it I feel like hell about an hour afterwards. I told my nurse and my doctor and they said they never heard of this happening before. I have to take a nap or sit down and relax for about 2-3 hours after dialysis on the days I take epo.
Does anyone else feel different after they take it. Different in a bad way.
-Jaybird
Oh and it never stings or anything.
Oh, they do love to ignore the fact that it's possible to get side effects from it. The manufacturer calls it "flu-like symptoms." I've been on some form of epo for the last 10 years. When I started dialysis 4 months ago, I had to fight like mad to keep taking mine at home sub-q, so that I could take it right before I went to bed. That way, I can sleep thru the worst of the side effects, which for me usually involves being light headed, shaky and nauseous. I'm on aranesp now, which my doc tried because the symptoms from the Procrit were so bad, I had to spend the entire day in bed doped up on darvocet.
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The only thing i know about my epo injections is i need to take it in the morning, if i take it at night i am wide awake until 4 or 5 in the morning (crazy huh) :urcrazy; that is pretty much the only problem i have with it, :thumbup;
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my symptoms are the same as goofynina's ~ must give it early in the day or there is no rest for hours and hours! :(
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I am on Arensep. I have taken it (sub q) at all different times of the day and have no side effects.
Could you ask to change from Epo?
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Gosh, I've never really thought about it but now that it's been mentioned, I do have trouble sleeping on those nights after I get my Aranesp shot in the evening. (I'm a chicken and my hubby gives me the shot.) Luckily I've only been on a single monthly dose of 200 mcg so it hasn't been a huge problem for me but I'll ask him to give me the shot earlier in the day next time. I've also had pain in the past when receiving the injection and plan to talk to my PD nurse tomorrow about using the smaller insulin needle. What great ideas you all given. Thanks!!
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When I did my first EPO shot I also thought it was going to hurt but I learned that our minds make up most of the problem. I found that there was no big deal at all. Take a big breath , do it once and you'll wonder why you waited so long.
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Let me just say that I am the biggest scaredy cat when it comes to needles. Now having said that, my husband gives me my epo shots every week. He does a fabulous job - throws it like a dart and I don't feel a thing. I was switched to Aranesp but it came in prefilled syringes with giant needles (comparatively) and it really stung. I complained to my neph and she switched me back to epo. I don't complain too much any more.
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Goofy and Anja, I am the same with the epo. It HAS to be early in the day or forget it, I ain't taking it!
I get to do another set of iron transfusions, my iron is so low. Darn it. It is sooo boring. Oh well.
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Goofy and Anja, I am the same with the epo. It HAS to be early in the day or forget it, I ain't taking it!
I get to do another set of iron transfusions, my iron is so low. Darn it. It is sooo boring. Oh well.
I agree, boring. :P
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Why do you say its boring? how long does it take? how often do you have to do it? just asking cuz i may have to be doing them soon too :-\
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Depends on what dose they give you. Now that I'm on dialysis, they just give me a series of 8 doses that run while I'm on the machine. Before I started dialysis, they would give me the full dose in one sitting - that's nine hours in the infusion clinic straight. Boring doesn't begin to cover it!
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As jbeany says boring does not begin to cover it!!! It's basically sitting there, with an IV in you while the iron drips sloooooowly and I mean slooooowly! I am doing the 3 visit 1.5 hours version, hey, I can't afford to take that much time off! What I'll do is go in next week at 3, be there til 5, then when I do my draw, I'll do the drip then, and the last one on clinic. My nurse works with me and
my schedule. Which I appreciate! It doesn't hurt, it's just tedious! Bring entertainment! And drinks!! (non alcoholic, unfortunately!)
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Went in for labs today and my PD nurse just gave my Iron through my needle. It was a big fat vial full and it took like 5 minutes, so i guess that is not the same thing you all are talking about huh? I fear the worst is yet to come though, tsk, maaaan :P
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Sorry GoofyNina. I sure hope you don't have to go through it. It really
isn't painful, just boring! I don't know what you got, I'll ask my nurse
next time I see her. She's good about explaining things to me.
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I finally got around talkin to my doc about My Epo shots and how they made me feel crappy. He looked at my blood scores and told me I should probably stop taking it because my blood was starting to become too thick. Once your blood is thick enough the Epo shots will still expand it more and that happens in your bone marrow. He told me that the bone ache because there is too much pressure from the inside.
I used to do dialysis at night time before bed and take my epo shot then so i could sleep the effects off, but My wife is due to have our second child in May, and I have been busy giving my 2 yr old a bath and putting him to sleep so she doesnt have too. So I switched to morning dialysis and now instead of sleeping through the effects, I feel like crap all day afterwards.
-Jaybird
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Hey Jaybird, good to see you again! Congrats on the upcoming addition to your family! :clap; You are such a good hubby and daddy, but sorry the EPo has been bothering you. Hopefully that will turn around for you now! Best of luck! :grouphug;
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Well. I had my first installment. It didn't go too well. It took my nurse 3 tries to get the iv in me, and I had a reaction, sort of a comobination hypoglycemic/panic attack. Ugh. Then the IV hurt. you guys know how IVs hurt anyway. That was in for 2 hours. She had to slow the drip so my blood pressure wouldn't go down any further. That's why the slow drip, by the way. Now I feel horrible. Exhausted, shaky, and cranky. I have 2 more to do. In two week increments. We don't know why this time it went so badly.
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I never noticed any side effects from epo shots... i still take epo and still dont notice side effects, but im gonna start looking to see if I get these or notice anything wierd.
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I was scared at first, but you just have to do it. Dont think about it, just stick it in! The more you think about it the worse it is. That is one of the joys of hemodialysis, no need to give yourself aranesp.
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Hey, guys. The next morning. I still do not feel well after my iron infusion. I just looked at my arm, it is bruised and sore. My feet were swollen, but I think that's from sitting in the chair for over 2 hours. I have called in sick today, and have my feet propped up now.
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MyssAnne, I'm thinking of you and hoping things are getting better fast! :cuddle;
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I'm to chicken (scared) :-\ for home dialysis. I want the experts there everytime.
As my life style changes and My Father blesses me with another day and i have insurance for dialysis then part of my life that changes is where i live.
I live within 10 miles from my center. It takes 45 min. by the local bus and 10 min by car.
Some people live an hour away from a center and prefer home dialysis but that's not my cup of tea.
They get paid to do it for me. For now. :2thumbsup;
I'm not ready to stick myself, and I'm not looking forward to ever doing it.
I ask for blessings and answered prayer to come everyones way at this moment.
My Father Loves you and so do I
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Hi guys. It's Monday now. I'm back to work, and have managed to fall down the steps outside, and bang up my knee!!
It's comical. You just gotta laugh. I was off work Wed-Fri, just unable to get up and go. And this happens. I'm back at
work, I'd left the building to do an exchange (cycler), and figured since I just hurt, and am banged up, I may as well
go in.
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Aye yi yi, girlfriend, you better be careful, thank goodness you didnt break anything. I am sure you will be a bit sore for a couple of days. Much love to ya my friend... :cuddle;
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Different hospitals have different protocols for giving iron. When I was on PD they would give it through a drip over 4 hours, checking BP etc. Now Im on hemo I give it as a bolus over 10 minutes made up into 20mls with saline. The first time you have iron it is important to give it slowly and monitoring BP and temp just in case you have a reaction to it.
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Ok now I am having a major problem of having to inject my husband although it is blood thinners and not epo.......I am not a medical person and my major and training never involved anything medical......but they now force me to give him shots instead of letting me drive him all the way to the hospital and let a nurse do it.....I would even pay them extra if need be.......I just cannot give shots to anyone.......now I know why my parents didn't let me go to med school....this stuff is not for me......I have already hurt my husband and both his legs have purple spots where I gave him the injections......I think this is grossly unfair that they let me hurt him like this....we are going to the hospital tomorrow........
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I received 2 shots of epo, 17 thousand units on friday after i was taken off dialysis. All becuz, sometimes I get headaches on dialysis but now i get them on off days too. My nurses and docs think i get the headaches becuz of the epo i was getting while on dialysis. So now they want to try giving me the shots in the arm to see if the headaches go away. They didn't go away. About 2 in the afternoon friday i started to get a headache so i called my unit to tell them their experiment failed and i want my damn cat scan or mri, which ever. I forgot how much epo burned. i thought being on hemo i was getting away from the shots.
Is 17 thousand units 3 x's a week alot?
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I received 2 shots of epo, 17 thousand units on friday after i was taken off dialysis. All becuz, sometimes I get headaches on dialysis but now i get them on off days too. My nurses and docs think i get the headaches becuz of the epo i was getting while on dialysis. So now they want to try giving me the shots in the arm to see if the headaches go away. They didn't go away. About 2 in the afternoon friday i started to get a headache so i called my unit to tell them their experiment failed and i want my damn cat scan or mri, which ever. I forgot how much epo burned. i thought being on hemo i was getting away from the shots.
Is 17 thousand units 3 x's a week alot?
It's hard to say if 17,000 is a lot. I have taken far more and seen others take far more. Kinda a individual thing. While epo can cause sudden headaches, it might be more to the affect of sudden shifts of toxins from being removed and they building back up.
Also when Epo or Aranesp are given sub-q they work far better and you usually need far less per shot.
You might push to be switched to Aranesp. With Aranesp the dose is far less as it is more potent and once they get the dose adjusted you usually only need to take on shot every two weeks. However it can burn far more than epo IMO.
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I find Aranesp has fewer side effects than the Procrit I was originally on. The Procrit was horrid - full body muscle aches like the flu, headaches, nausea. I used to call it my "baseball bat in a bottle" because it felt like I had been beaten by one the day after I took it. I generally spent the day after a dose out cold in bed, doped up on Darvocet. The Aranesp still gives me a few side effects, but it's mostly a couple of hours of feeling shaky and headachy. I had to fight my center like crazy to keep taking it sub-q, though. I find if I take it just before bed, along with a good dose of extra strength Tylenol, I can usually sleep through the side effects.
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Well, I am still taking Aranesp every two weeks at least until
my Creatinine go up just a little more and I go on dialysis.
There is a new nurse at the office where I get my shots.
She is great with the needle. I don't feel a thing. Before I
could always feel the solution go into my arm.
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Has anyone had the experience of feeling extremely flushed after their
Aranesp or Epocrit injections? I was out for a short time in the sun
after my injection, and I felt very flushed all day. That's the first time
that has happened to me.
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Has anyone had the experience of feeling extremely flushed after their
Aranesp or Epocrit injections? I was out for a short time in the sun
after my injection, and I felt very flushed all day. That's the first time
that has happened to me.
Have you checked to see if sun exposure is ok for you with your meds? I know there are some that are not, please let us know :popcorn;